LONDON: Rihanna and her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown have sparked rumours they have rekindled their romance.

The pair - who are barred from contacting each other after Chris pleaded guilty to felony assault last month following his altercation with Rihanna last February - both reportedly stayed at Manhattan's Trump International Hotel and Tower over the weekend. The New York Post newspaper reports: "The two spent the weekend at the same luxury Midtown hotel under a cloak of secrecy.

"They spent the next two days coming and going in separate chauffeured vehicles from the underground garage of the 52-story Columbus Circle building. The two appear to have taken great measures to avoid public exposure, including the use of decoy vehicles to throw off reporters and photographers."

Rihanna and Chris were not seen together during their stay at the luxury establishment, and checked into separate bedrooms.

Chris was spotted leaving the hotel to go to the cinema with pals on Friday (24.07.09), and also spent time with friends in Harlem.

Rihanna, 21, enjoyed a meal with seven companions, and was believed to be looking for a new apartment in New York.

Chris, 20, is understood to have checked out of the hotel on Saturday (25.07.09), with one of his entourage claiming his decision was because "Rihanna had checked in".

The 'Run It' singer reached a plea bargain for attacking the Barbados-born beauty before his case went to trial.

Under the terms of the agreement, Chris is the subject of a restraining order which sees him banned from coming within 50 yards of the 'Umbrella' singer.

If he is found to have violated the terms, he might lose the plea bargain - which saw him receive five years probation and 180 days of community labour rather than any jail time - and be charged with a misdemeanour.

Chris' lawyer Mark Geragos did not know where his client was when questioned, and would only say: "I don't want to be quoted on something hypothetical."

Last week, Chris posted a clip on video sharing website YouTube in which he apologised for the "inexcusable" assault.